recross the river.  Before quitting the shore Peter and Crowsfeather had a clear understanding on the subject of their respective movements; and, as soon as the former began to paddle up against the wind, the latter called his young men together, made a short address, and led them into the woods, as if about to proceed on a march of length.  The party, notwithstanding, did not proceed more than a mile and a half, when it came to a halt, and lighted a fire in order to cook some venison taken on the way.

When Peter reached the south shore, he found the whole group assembled to receive him.  His tale was soon told.  He had talked with the Pottawattamies, and they were gone.  The canoes, however, must be carried to the other shore and left there, in order that their owners might recover their property when they returned.  This much had Peter promised, and his pale-face friends must help him to keep his word.  Then he pointed to the Openings as to their place of present safety.  There they would be removed from all immediate danger, and he would accompany them and give them the countenance and protection of his name and presence.  As for going south on the lake, that was impossible, so long as the wind lasted, and it was useless even could it be done.  The troops had all left Chicago, and the fort was destroyed.

Parson Amen and Corporal Flint, both of whom were completely deluded by Peter, fancying him a secret friend of the whites, in consequence of his own protestations to that effect and the service he had already rendered them, in appearance at least, instantly acquiesced in this wily savage’s proposal.  It was the best, the wisest, nay, the only thing that now could be done.  Mackinaw was gone, as well as Chicago, and Detroit must be reached by crossing the peninsula, instead of taking the easier but far more circuitous route of the lakes.  Gershom was easily enough persuaded into the belief of the feasibility, as well as of the necessity, of this deviation from his original road, and he soon agreed to accompany the party.

With le Bourdon the case was different.  He understood himself and the wilderness.  For him the wind was fair, and there was no necessity for his touching at Mackinaw at all.  It is true, he usually passed several days on that pleasant and salubrious island, and frequently disposed of lots of honey there; but he could dispense with the visit and the sales.  There was certainly danger now to be apprehended from the Ottawas, who would be very apt to be out on the lake after this maritime excursion against the fort; but it was possible even to elude their vigilance.  In a word, the bee-hunter did not believe in the prudence of returning to the Openings, but thought it by far the wisest for the whole party to make the best of its way by water to the settlements.  All this he urged warmly on his white companions, taking them aside for that purpose, and leaving Peter and Pigeonswing together while he did so.